In a playoff matchup that featured early momentum swings and a late-game push, the Pahrump Valley Little League Senior Division contest between the A’s and Dodgers on Tuesday, May 5 delivered a full slate of offense, defensive plays and standout individual efforts from both sides.
The A’s came out aggressive in the top of the first inning against Dodgers starting pitcher Chris Mize. Andrew Chastain wasted no time setting the tone, turning a deep fly ball into an inside-the-park home run to give the A’s an early lead. After drawing walks, Anthony Aguilar and Caiden created traffic on the bases before Bentley Shannon delivered a key moment, driving a triple into the outfield to plate two more runs. A wild pitch later brought him home, helping the A’s build a 4-0 advantage.
The Dodgers answered right back in the bottom half against A’s pitcher Will Cassell. Trustin Wagnon reached base and the Dodgers began to string together quality at-bats. Chris Mize and Alan Rodriguez each recorded singles to keep the inning alive, and after Cassell worked through a strikeout, Caleb Morales drove in a run with a ground ball. The biggest swing came from Angelo, who lifted a ball into the outfield for a bases-clearing triple, tying the game at 4-4 by the end of the first inning.
The second inning swung heavily in favor of the A’s. Taking advantage of control issues and a pitching change to Morales, the A’s capitalized on hit batters, walks and timely hits. Bentley Shannon continued his standout performance with another run-producing hit, while Jose Aguilar and Will Cassell each added RBI contributions. The A’s kept the line moving throughout the inning, scoring nine runs to take a commanding 13-4 lead.
Defensively, the A’s found ways to slow the Dodgers in the second. Cassell worked through a pair of outs early, aided by clean infield play from Anthony Aguilar at shortstop and Kaiser Pormanes at first base. The Dodgers managed a hit from Champ Colon, but the inning ended with the A’s still firmly in control.
The Dodgers refused to back down in the third. After Wagnon was hit by a pitch, Chris Mize again came through with a base hit to drive in a run. Alan Rodriguez followed with another single, and Morales added an RBI knock to keep the rally going. With runners on base, walks and aggressive baserunning allowed the Dodgers to chip away, cutting the deficit to 13-9 by the end of the inning.
The A’s added to their total in the fourth. Anthony Aguilar opened with a double, and Shannon followed with another extra-base hit to drive him in. The A’s continued to manufacture runs with productive outs, including a ground ball from Kaiser Pormanes that brought home another run, extending the lead to 15-9.
The Dodgers mounted their strongest push in the bottom of the fourth against Anthony Aguilar, who had taken over pitching duties. Showing patience at the plate, the Dodgers loaded the bases with consecutive walks before Rodriguez delivered a two-run single. Logan Nunez followed with a hit of his own, bringing in two more runs. Aggressive baserunning and a wild pitch allowed another run to score, tightening the game to 15-14. Aguilar regrouped late in the inning, recording back-to-back strikeouts to end the threat and preserve the narrow lead.
Throughout the game, both teams showcased strong individual efforts. Shannon led the way for the A’s with multiple extra-base hits and key RBIs, while Chastain’s inside-the-park home run set the tone early. For the Dodgers, Mize and Rodriguez consistently produced at the plate, and Angelo’s first-inning triple proved to be a pivotal moment in keeping the game competitive.
On the mound, the A’s relied on Cassell early before turning to Aguilar in the later innings, while the Dodgers worked through multiple arms, including Mize, Morales and Rodriguez, as they navigated the A’s offensive pressure.
In the end, it was a game defined by resilience on both sides, with the A’s building an early cushion and the Dodgers responding with persistent rallies that kept the outcome in doubt until the final outs.
*Photos are available at pvcnphotos.com.
